Visitor information

Leipzig Zoo - a rainforest paradise in the heart of the city

Dating back over 120 years and with a host of historical buildings, Leipzig Zoo is one of the oldest and most famous zoos in Germany but is also one of the most modern. Heidi, the cross-eyed opossum, brought it to the attention of the world.

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Leipzig Zoo, an attraction unlike any other in the world, is one of the most distinguished zoos in Germany. A creation of man and nature, it is home to many rare animal species such as the Baikal seal, the musk deer and the okapi. All four great ape species live in large groups in Pongoland, one of the world's largest ape enclosures. The Kiwara savannah is populated by giraffes, antelopes, ostriches and zebras. Their neighbours include a flamingo flock, hyenas and, in the Makasi Simba lion savannah, Angola lions. The aquarium, which is over 100 years old, offers a fantastic insight into underwater worlds and their exotic inhabitants. One of the largest in Germany, with a 35,000-litre-capacity, it features landscaped pools, a terrarium and a panorama shark tank. The zoo also offers a range of delicious food in each of the themed lands, from light bites to buffet meals.

Highlights

Have you always wanted to explore the rainforest in a boat? Or watch pygmy hippos cooling off in the water? Then visit Gondwanaland, the tropical world at Leipzig Zoo, home to 40 exotic animal species and around 500 species of plants and trees. Inside a vast dome with a 34-metre-high roof, you'll feel what it's like to be in the tropical rainforests of Africa, Asia and South America. The temperature 26°C, the humidity 65 per cent; there is a chorus of buzzing, chirruping, grunting and splashing. The warm, damp air is filled with the smell of pineapple, cocoa, coffee and eucalyptus. A pygmy hippo appears, a silvery marmoset swings from branch to branch and a timid dik-dik looks around with its huge eyes, before vanishing into the undergrowth. This tropical paradise can be explored on various jungle paths, but a particular highlight here is a boat trip across the Gamanile rainforest river. If you've never been to Leipzig Zoo, you don't know what you're missing!